Concern over lack of action on general practice training
Whoever pays the piper calls the tune.
Never was this proverb so apparently true as in planning for the future of general practice training in Australia.
Maintaining and continually improving quality general practice training is core business for the RACGP.
The RACGP has actively participated in stakeholder meetings alongside all other general practice organisations over the last 12 months in relation to changes in general practice education.
At the beginning of 2015, regional training organisation (RTO) boundaries were an area of active discussion and the RACGP advised that, in its view, primary health network (PHN) or state boundaries should be applied in a consistent manner, with regional locally contextual learning nodes retaining the apprentice model of teaching.
The RACGP has consistently maintained its commitment to regional education, which must be factored into any revised training environment.
The Federal Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, finalised the boundaries and they were made publicly available on 9 April. On 27April, in direct response to members’ concerns, I wrote directly to the Minister stating:
‘Whilst we welcome the announcement and resolution to this long-standing issue of training boundaries, there are often unintended consequences of any decision and, in this case, the RACGP is concerned about the announced general practice training boundaries as they pertain to the states of Queensland, Victoria and NSW.’
The RACGP asked for a consistent, more logical approach across Australia and, critically, that established successful pathways and groups not be totally disrupted with potential loss of critical expertise.
Regrettably, the RACGP has not been involved in the direct selection of successful organisations to deliver general practice training.
Tenders for the new Regional Training Provider (RTP) contracts have apparently been examined by the Department of Health, but there is still no news on the identities of those who will take on the responsibility of delivering the specialist training of some 6000 general practice registrars.
And so the uncertainty continues.
Timelines are short.
The RACGP again urges the Department of Health to select the organisations that can be flexible, innovative and contextual, and have the intellectual capacity to be inclusive and collaborative and ensure a smooth transition for general practice registrars.
The independent general practice reference group, which will have oversight of general practice training (policy, process and maldistribution advice), has not yet met as the independent Chair and two other independent committee members have not been announced. This committee was due to start work in May 2015.
Our position has not changed in this uncertain environment: the RACGP will maintain strict oversight and governance over the new RTOs in their delivery of the education program in order to align with RACGP standards.
Quality general practice training is at stake and the engagement of GP supervisors, experienced medical educators and our registrars is critical.
We want the best and brightest in general practice. This protracted uncertainty is unreasonable and creating instability.
I met briefly with Minister Ley on Wednesday at GP15, outlining members’ concerns and reiterating that we hope for a speedy and sensible resolution.
Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President
RACGP to work with the Federal Government on domestic violence education
The Federal Government announced a $100 million ‘Women’s Safety Package to Stop the Violence’ on Thursday, which includes working with the RACGP to develop and deliver specialised training to GPs across the country.
The RACGP has welcomed the announcement as an important step in addressing domestic and family violence in Australia.
Detail on the funding amount and specifics around how the development and deliverance of specialised training are yet to be confirmed by the Government.
The RACGP sets and provides a Curriculum for Australian General Practice that reflects the fundamental skills and attributes for addressing family violence.
The Abuse and violence: working with our patients in general practice (the White book) is an extensive resource for GPs, providing evidence-based guidance on appropriate identification and response in clinical practice to patients experiencing abuse and violence.
The latest edition offers new insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as migrant, refugee and rural communities.
The RACGP has proposed the introduction of Medicare patient rebates to support a national approach to healthcare delivery for women and children experiencing family violence.
These rebates would enable GPs to develop a ‘Family health safety plan’, providing a framework and support for GPs to implement an action plan with their patient, which could include referrals to mother and child and group services.
The RACGP is also currently working with stakeholders to develop adjunct resources, particularly a decision-making pathway for working with perpetrators – an area recognised as requiring more attention across the sector.
GP15 a great success
GP15 has been and gone and, yet again, it was a huge success. More than 1600 delegates attended the conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this week under the theme, ‘Our future in practice’.
Most importantly, the RACGP Conference for General Practice is an educational event. Feedback from this year’s delegates again indicates they found the high quality and variety of education sessions to be the highlight, and the primary reason they would recommend it to their peers.
Wednesday’s closing plenary was a reflective and jovial affair, with guest speaker, Channel Ten’s Jessica Rowe, delivering a heartfelt speech thanking GPs for their work. The Federal Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, had a mad dash to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, admitting she had ‘got out of the car and ran’ after getting stuck in traffic on her way to the conference. The RACGP filmed a short interview with Minister Ley following the closing plenary, which will be available on the RACGP YouTube page in the coming weeks.
As WA Faculty chair Dr Tim Koh said in Wednesday’s closing plenary, GP16 will be held in Perth from 29 September to 1 October. Register your interest at gp16.com.au by 31 October and enter the draw to win a free conference registration. Join the conversation on social media now using #GP16perth.
Video highlights from GP15
The RACGP has produced a series of videos from GP15, including highlights, interviews with speakers, the keynote address from Dr Alessandro Demaio and an interview with Sussan Ley.
These highlights and interviews will continue to be pushed out via the FACGP Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages over the coming weeks.
Photos are also available now via the RACGP Facebook page.